Although we all make mistakes sometimes, it’s a good idea to do your best to avoid them if you’re doing something as significant as buying San Diego luxury homes.

If you are preparing to buy a home (or currently touring San Diego luxury homes), be sure that you are aware of the most common home buying mistakes that a lot of buyers often commit:

Mistake to Avoid: Buying a Home Without Having it Inspected

How do you know if the home you’re buying is in good condition without a property inspection? Even if the seller is freely disclosing known issues, there could be underlying problems that not even they are aware of. Always have San Diego luxury homes inspected before finalizing the contract.

Mistake to Avoid: Finding a Home Before Getting Pre-Approved

You should always get pre-approved before shopping for San Diego luxury homes. Being pre-approved shows the seller that you’re serious about purchasing a property and have been deemed capable of following through with the offer you have made.

Mistake to Avoid: Buying a Home That’s Too Expensive

Do a little research (and get pre-approved like mentioned above) before you even begin viewing San Diego luxury homes to determine how much you can comfortably afford and only look at San Diego luxury homes within your price range. You don’t want to purchase a home only to lose it later after falling behind on payments.

Mistake to Avoid:  Failing to Lock-in At Low Interest Rates — AND Getting it in Writing

Some buyers wait around for interest rates to drop before pursuing a rate lock. Unless you’re good at watching the market, this can be a bad idea and result in you locking in a higher interest rate. When you do lock in a rate, get it in writing – the interest rate, period of the rate-lock, etc.

Mistake to Avoid:  Using a Double Agent

Did you know that real estate agents can represent both the buyer and the seller? Make sure that your real estate agent is focusing solely on your best interest by using a San Diego Luxury Buyer Agent when shopping for San Diego luxury homes.

Mistake to Avoid: Not Reading the Contract Before Signing

You remember your family and friends advising you to never sign anything without reading it first when you were growing up, right? This is definitely advice to following when buying San Diego luxury homes! Always make sure you get it in writing and read the details before signing. The last thing you want to do is end up in a pickle because you didn’t read the document details.

Do your best to avoid these common home buying mistakes while shopping San Diego luxury homes – not every mistake can be rectified before closing and can lead to long-term effects. Research and educated decisions can lead to a smoother and faster home purchase. Be sure to openly communicate with your San Diego Luxury Buyer Agent to get the best deal possible.

Start searching San Diego luxury homes for sale now and let me know if you have any questions!

Photo Credit: Faris

If you’ve been cruising along the San Diego coastline looking at San Diego coastal homes for sale, the following questions may cross your mind a time or two:

• How long does it usually take to buy a home?
• How many San Diego coastal homes do buyers usually see?
• How do I keep track of all the San Diego coastal homes I check out?
• What do I do if I find multiple San Diego coastal homes for sale that I like?

How long does it usually take to buy a home?

Some buyers find a home within a couple of days while others take years. The time it takes to find a home depends on how motivated you are and how active you remain in your San Diego home search. Having a good San Diego buyer agent working by your side to make sure you see only San Diego coastal homes for sale that meet your housing profile can make all the difference as well.

How many San Diego coastal homes do buyers usually see?

If you hit the road to check out San Diego coastal homes for sale, you can probably check out 5-7 homes before calling it a day. Any more than that would be tough to keep track of and you’ll probably want to reflect on the San Diego coastal homes you tour before setting out on the next bunch. Some buyers see dozens of homes before finding “the one”, while others get lucky within the first couple. Be patient until you find the home that’s right for you.

How do I keep track of all the San Diego coastal homes I check out?

Make sure you carry a digital camera with you at all times when touring San Diego coastal homes for sale. Consider also bringing a notepad to jot down notes of things you like, don’t like, or other unique things about each home you see. Does it have a great view? Do you like the location? Was there a lot of noise in the area? This will help you remember the San Diego coastal homes you check out and help you decide which ones you like and which ones you didn’t.

What do I do if I find multiple San Diego coastal homes for sale that I like?

If you happen to find yourself in a situation where you have a couple San Diego coastal homes for sale that you like, start reviewing your notes, listen to your gut feeling, and schedule a second showing. Typically if you revisit the property you will notice things you didn’t before and get a better grasp on whether or not you really like the home.

Have your San Diego Luxury Buyer Agent call the listing agent to see if there are any other competing offers and find out how motivated the seller is. Once you’ve decided on a home you like, you can take the next step to get an offer ready.

Have fun checking out San Diego coastal homes for sale; feel free to start your San Diego home search online now. Let me know if you have any questions or need any help getting started.

Photo Credit: tingyfroglet

When you conduct your San Diego home search, you’re not only seeking San Diego county homes for sale that have all of the amenities you want, but San Diego County homes that will provide a safe and comfortable place to live.

While sellers disclose as much information as possible and inspections show all, it would cost you a lot to get an inspection on all San Diego County homes for sale that may catch your eye.

Instead, you can keep an eye out for red flags when checking out properties during your San Diego home search. Here are the big offenders you’ll need to look out for:

Overwhelming Odors

You’re certain to come across San Diego County homes for sale that have a unique smell – whether it’s the scent of cookies the seller has prepared to make you more at home or the potpourri to cast a pleasant faint smell – you should be on alert for any bad smells that overpower your sinuses. A bad smell (or obvious attempts to mask one) can be a very bad sign.

“Off Limit” Areas

Come across any San Diego County homes for sale with areas that are “off limits”, especially to those looking to buy? There’s a reason for that and it probably isn’t good. Make sure you tour the entire home and ask to make another appointment if you can’t see it that day.

Flickering Lights and Faulty Wiring

It’s a natural reaction to flick on the light when looking at a property, but keep an eye out for flickering lights and faceplates or outlets that are warm or hot when you do so. All of this can be symptoms of old or faulty wiring.

Multiple Homes for Sale on the Same Street

It’s great to have a variety of San Diego County homes for sale, but it’s a little fishy if they’re all on the same street. If you spot multiple homes for sale as soon as you step out of the car, maybe it’s time you have a chat with the neighbors to see what’s going on.

Signs of Foundation Issues

Foundation repairs are costly and definitely not something you want to deal with. Closely examine the floors and observe the walls/ceilings when touring San Diego County homes for sale. Rule of thumb is that if a crack is bigger than 1/3 inch then you may be facing serious structural issues.

Bugs, Bugs, Bugs!

Was that a mouse that just scurried across the floor?! The only inhabitants that should be residing in your home are ones that you approve of. Check around for clues that humans are not the only ones living in the San Diego County homes you’re interested in. Mice and roaches can be difficult to get rid of, but a more destructive pest like termites can cost you thousands. Make sure you get a termite report when you decide on the home you wish to buy.

Although it may be relatively easy finding San Diego County homes for sale that offer everything you want in a home, making sure your San Diego home search doesn’t end in disaster can be tricky. Make your San Diego home search a smooth one by keeping the red flags above in mind and of course, by getting a full home inspection when you decide on a home to buy.

If you need help finding San Diego County homes for sale that suit your needs, feel free to contact me!

Photo Credit: SD Dirk

If you’re in the market to buy San Diego real estate it seems as though you’re bound to stumble across a few short sales – even when shopping high end North County luxury homes.

While it’s true that you can get a great deal on a short sale, especially if you’re focusing on North County luxury homes, you may want to think twice about making an offer on one. The term “short sale” can be quite misleading as they are usually anything but short. Infact, they tend to be the exact opposite!

So what is a Short Sale?

A short sale is when a lender agrees to a discounted pay-off on a mortgage to avoid foreclosure or bankruptcy.

When purchasing a short sale, you’re buying the property directly from the lender and not the homeowner.
Since the lender is open to the idea of accepting less than the balance currently owed, buyers have the opportunity to get a sweet deal. However, your offer will still have to be in line with the property’s current market value.

Due to the high volume of short sales and foreclosures pouring in, lenders are swamped and you’ll need to be ready to wait for their approval and responses on your short sale offer. Most short sales take anywhere from 3 months to close to a year to close, although some do close in 30-60 days.

Do Your Research Before Offering on Short Sales

If you search through North County luxury homes and find a house you must have that’s a short sale, be sure to have your San Diego Luxury Buyer Agent do a little homework. Have your agent check how much is owed to the lender, whether a foreclosure notice has been filed, and who holds title. All of this can help you establish a price range that your offer needs to fall within.

Although short sales require a bit more digging and patience, they can pay off in the end. Just be sure you know what you’re getting into, make sure you’re working with an agent that has experience with short sales, and just remember… good things come to those who wait!

Check out North County luxury homes that are in foreclosure or listed as short sale online.

Photo Credit: lora_313

Often times when we set out to do something as exciting as buying Solana Beach homes for sale (or any other San Diego luxury real estate for that matter), important details like the desired number of bedrooms or bathrooms, minimum square footage, or set price range all fly out the window!

Chances are you will be previewing countless Solana Beach homes for sale and it’s easy to forget what amenities you were hoping to have while you try to decide if each house is right for you.

To make your house hunt go smooth, you will want to set some time aside in beginning stages to create a housing profile to help you stay focused when checking out Solana Beach homes for sale and avoid forgetting any features on your "must-have" list.

Items to Include on Your Housing Profile

• Home Type (house, condo, etc)
• Number of bedrooms
• Number of bathrooms
• Square footage (lot & home)
• Single-story or Two-story
• Garage size (1 car, 2 car, etc)
• Back/front yard size
• Air conditioning system
• Heat (gas/electric)
• Privacy from neighbors
• Pool / spa needs
• Fireplace
• Preferred neighborhoods
• Proximity to desired school district
• Distance from job

As you can imagine, the list can grow quite large, so always try to keep an open mind when checking out Solana Beach homes for sale. Of course, you can overlook cosmetic things like wall color and flooring since these things can easily be changed later on down the line.

If possible, be sure to pass along your housing profile to your San Diego luxury buyer agent. It will definitely be a big help to make sure you stay on track and only look at Solana Beach homes for sale that meet majority (if not all) of your needs!

Feel free to browse Solana Beach homes for sale online and let me know if you have any questions or need further assistance building your home profile or checking out Solana Beach homes.

Photo Credit: theritters

Over two miles of sandy beaches, coastal parks to rent and host gatherings, world-famous Del Mar Fairgrounds, weekend farmer’s market, along with an assortment of other recreational outlets all at your disposal contribute to the prestige of owning Del Mar real estate.

For those of you checking out Del Mar homes for sale, be sure to remember the main areas to address on all Del Mar homes of interest:

1. Asking Price
2. Condition of the Home
3. Location of the Home

Asking Price of Del Mar Homes for Sale

Always remember that the asking price isn’t always up to par with the actual home’s value. Be sure that you check out the CMA’s (comparative market analysis) and see if there are any offers for any Del Mar real estate you’re interested in buying. You will want to make sure your offer is reasonable according to the CMA to make sure your offer will be within range of the home’s current market value and having an idea of any other offers will help yours survive with the rest.

Condition of Del Mar Homes You’re Interested In

It’s strongly recommended that you get a home inspection on any Del Mar real estate you intend on purchasing. If there’s significant work that needs to be done on any of the Del Mar homes for sale you like, then you may want to take that into consideration when negotiating the price or submitting your offer.

Location of Del Mar Homes You’re Interested In

Distance from your job, the desired school for the kids, or even your favorite pastime should all be taken into consideration when you’re looking at Del Mar homes for sale. Also take a look at the level of traffic, noise, surrounding buildings, and chat with neighbors to pick the best location for you.

Touring Del Mar homes for sale can be an exciting adventure. Make sure you’re asking the right questions and have a dedicated San Diego Luxury Buyer Agent working with you to help you find the answers.

Browse Del Mar homes for sale online or contact me if you have any other questions!

Photo Credit: pondage

While you may browse San Diego coastal homes on the market to see if there are any Pacific Beach homes, La Jolla homes, or Coronado homes in your price range, it’s important that you remember that you won’t just be paying the sticker price of the home, but also covering miscellaneous fees that come along with the home buying process.

The last thing you want to do is dedicate time researching neighborhoods, searching San Diego coastal homes for sale, drafting up an offer, only to be bombarded with a laundry list of fees and expenses you weren’t previously aware of. 

Of course, the fees incurred vary from transaction to transaction and state to state, but here are some common home buying expenses that you will encounter when buying San Diego coastal homes:

• Appraisal
  You will want to get an appraisal whenever buying San Diego coastal homes to ensure you’re buying the house at its current market value. Appraisals are required in order for a loan to be approved by a vendor and will run $200-500 on average.

   

• Credit Report
  Lenders will run a credit report during the loan application process to judge whether or not you qualify for a loan. These are fairly cheap and typically cost around $15-30.

   

• Down payment
  Your down payment will be paid at closing and will vary depending on the type of loan you get and the list price of the San Diego real estate purchased. This can range anywhere from 3.5%, 10%, 20%, or a higher percentage of the home purchase price.

   

• Earnest Money Deposit
  Not to be confused with a down payment (listed above), a earnest money deposit is to show “good faith” that you are a “serious buyer” and fully intend to complete the sale. The amount varies from market to market since there is no set amount, but typically ranges from 1-3% of the sales price.

   

• Homeowners Insurance
  Like a car, your home will need to be insured before you take possession. Costs heavily rely on your insurance company and the size of the home. Expect to spend a couple hundred at the very least.

   

• Home Inspection
  San Diego coastal homes can quickly go from being a dream to a nightmare if you happen to pick the one home with a million problems. It’s in your best interest to have the house inspected – and some lenders do require it – so be ready to fork over $200-450 for a home inspection.

   

• Point or Origination Fees
  You can lower your mortgage interest rate by buying what are known as “points”; naturally the more points you buy, the lower your interest rate. On average these run 0-2% of the mortgage amount.

   

• Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
  Expect to pay for PMI if you’re putting less than 20% down on your home. This is to cover the lender if you default on your loan.

   

• Property Taxes
  Depending on how the previous owner paid for property taxes (quarterly), you may owe property taxes instantaneously when buying San Diego coastal homes. Property taxes are based on the value of the property.

   

• State Recording
  Naturally the state recording fee varies depending on your state, but on average run anywhere from $50 to $150.

   

• Survey
  A property survey will determine exactly where your property lines are and typically run anywhere from $150-$400 to conduct. Note: A new survey isn’t necessary if an existing survey can be used.

   

• Title Insurance
  Title insurance typically runs $50-1,000 and covers you if its discovered that the home seller does not own the San Diego real estate you’ve purchased.

   

• Underwriting Fee
  Underwriters review your credit and financial standing along with the property value and condition to make decisions regarding your mortgage loan. On average your underwriting fees will run anywhere from $200-800.

As you can see, there are quite a few costs to consider beyond the listing price of any San Diego coastal homes you may be looking to buy. Be sure you take these added fees into account when entering a contract to avoid wasting your time or even losing money.

For example, if you enter contract only to find that you have to back out, you could lose your earnest money deposit, which can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a thousand depending on your market and the agreement.

Feel free to contact me if you need assistance finding San Diego coastal homes.

Photo Credit: mikol_ice

In my previous post, I covered what you should NOT do before buying San Diego luxury real estate, so it would only be appropriate to follow up with a list of things that you SHOULD do before buying San Diego luxury real estate.

We’d all love to just roll out of bed and just start touring San Diego luxury real estate in Del Mar, Coronado, Rancho Santa Fe, or even cruise down to the southern San Diego beaches to check out La Jolla homes or Pacific Beach real estate, find the home we like, and just buy it.

Fact is, buying San Diego luxury real estate is a complicated process, especially if you’re a first-time buyer, so you will want to make sure you take all of the necessary steps to make sure you’re in the right position to purchase a home.

Here are 5 things you SHOULD do to prepare yourself for a San Diego luxury real estate purchase:

#1 – Think About Being a Home Owner

Are you ready for the responsibilities that come with owning San Diego luxury real estate? Many people overlook the maintenance costs of owning a house; if something breaks, you’ll be the one having to pay to get it fixed. Make sure you’re in the proper mindset and ready to own your own home.

#2 – Get Your Finances in Order

Pull your credit report and work on raising your credit score… the higher your credit score is, the better off you’ll be. If you have any outstanding debts, work on paying them off or down as much as possible. After that, start saving as much as you can for your down payment and closing costs. It’s best if you start working on getting your finances in order a year or two before looking to buy San Diego luxury real estate.

#3 –  Determine Where You Want to Live

Do you have any idea where you want to settle down? Conduct a little research on the areas you may want to purchase. .. factor in the distance from your job, investigate the school districts for the kids, and scout nearby recreational attractions for when you get bored. Del Mar, Poway, Rancho Santa Fe, and Solana Beach are great places to look into if you want North San Diego County while La Jolla, Pacific Beach, or Coronado would be a good fit if you want Southern San Diego County real estate.

#4 – Find a San Diego Luxury Buyer Agent

Get a helping hand to guide you through the San Diego luxury home buying process by seeking out a San Diego Luxury Buyer Agent. A San Diego Luxury Buyer Agent will help you quickly locate homes that suit your personal taste and meet your needs and carefully monitor the home buying process from start to finish.  Enlisting the help of a San Diego Luxury Buyer Agent will ensure your best interest is always put first.

#5 – Get Pre-Approved

Distinguish yourself from those who are “just looking” at San Diego luxury real estate by getting pre-approved (NOT pre-qualified) BEFORE you start your home search.  Not only will sellers take your offers more seriously, but it will let you know exactly how much you can afford and avoid you from looking at San Diego luxury real estate that is out of your price range. Note that you will need to present  bank statements and other documents to confirm your identity and assets.

The 5 steps above will help you get on the right path to pursue buying San Diego luxury real estate. Always be sure to ask questions on the way and make sure you gain a solid understanding of the home buying process before jumping into a home purchase.

Photo Credit: Jason Duncan

With the excitement of knowing you will soon purchase one of the prized San Diego luxury homes for sale you may be tempted to do things like buy all new appliances, a new car, or find a variety of other things to spend your money on.

While you may not think that these random expenses hurt your chances of buying San Diego luxury homes, they actually do! Not only will they put a dent your savings account, but potentially alter your debt–to–income ratio to the point where you qualify for a lower loan amount.

To help you avoid making costly mistakes that hinder your chances of buying San Diego luxury homes, I’ve compiled a list of things you should NOT do before (or while) you’re conducting your San Diego luxury home search:

#1 –  Do NOT Buy a New Car

Although the idea of having a brand new car sitting in your new San Diego luxury home driveway sounds like a dream come true, buying that new car during the home buying process can hurt you in the long run. Lenders look at your debt–to–income ratio (% of gross monthly income BEFORE taxes spent on debt) and if you tack on a higher car note than your ability to qualify for a mortgage will suffer as a result. Get the San Diego luxury home of your dreams FIRST and the car later.

#2 – Do NOT Change Banks

During the loan approval process, lenders review all of your funds and any money related activity. At the very least you will provide the last two or three months of statements on checking accounts, savings accounts, 401k and retirement accounts, money market funds, stock statements, etc. Switching banks will not only make it difficult for you to obtain records, but slow the home buying process down.

#3 –Do NOT Move Money Around

Underwriters will be thoroughly inspecting your paper trail, so avoid doing any unnecessary money movement while your liquid assets are being reviewed to make things go smoother. Be ready to produce deposit receipts, cancelled checks, and other seemingly insignificant paperwork that they will need to properly document your loan files.

#4 – Do NOT Change Jobs

Unless you are a full–time salaried employee or an hourly employee working a full 40–hour week, it would be best if you kept your current job until after you’ve bought your new San Diego luxury home. Since every detail of your financial and employment status are being scrutinized by lenders, you do not want to give them any reason to hike up your interest rate or reject your loan application. If you’re a commissioned, part–time, or self–employed individual, its better you hold off until you’ve successfully purchased your San Diego luxury home.

#5 – Do NOT Buy Expensive Appliances or Furniture

Although you may be tempted to go out and buy a slew of new appliances and furniture to fill in your new San Diego luxury home, it would be best to wait until after you close escrow. Buying appliances and furniture beforehand could result in you being knee-deep in debt or even spending money that you may need for the down payment and closing costs. Wait until after you close on the San Diego luxury home of your dreams and buy appliances and furniture after the dust settles.

Ready to start looking through San Diego luxury homes for sale to find your dream home? Feel free to start your San Diego luxury home search online and let me know if you need assistance getting started.

Photo Credit: moonjazz

It’s no wonder why the idea of moving to San Diego may be on the brain.

Awesome weather, miles of beautiful beaches, a variety of famous amusement parks, a diverse selection of employment opportunities, and a system of highly regarded educational institutes are merely a fraction of what San Diego has to offer. I bet you’ll quickly realize why the city is one of the most popular tourist destinations within days of your San Diego relocation.

Of course, since you’re coming from a different area, the idea of buying San Diego real estate can be a bit scary. How will you search San Diego homes for sale? How will you know which neighborhoods you should be looking into?

Make your San Diego relocation go a little smoother by doing the following:

Do a Little San Diego Research Online

The internet offers you unlimited information on San Diego, so be sure to look-up information on San Diego County, popular San Diego tourist attractions and destinations, San Diego schools, and even visit the San Diego police department website to check the crime stats by neighborhood.

Take a look at San Diego real estate by searching San Diego homes for sale. That way you can pick out a few San Diego homes for sale that you like and plan a trip to check them out when you can.

Get in Touch with a San Diego Buyer Agent

Once you’ve gotten a little background on San Diego and get an idea of where you want to start checking out San Diego real estate – or even if you don’t have a clue – it would definitely be wise to speak with someone that’s familiar with the San Diego home buying process!

A San Diego Buyer Agent can educate you about the home buying process in San Diego, guide you in the right direction of getting pre-approved with a lender, help you find San Diego homes for sale that might be of interest, and closely monitor the entire closing process from start to finish.

Create a San Diego Relocation Check-list

While you can get carried away with learning more about San Diego and spend nights searching San Diego homes for sale, it’s important you don’t forget to do things associated with your actual move. Make sure you don’t forget to give a forwarding address to the post office, update all billing addresses, cancel and setup utilities, update your car registration, register the kids in their new school, and more. By creating a list you can make sure nothing is skipped.

For more information or assistance on moving to San Diego, go here.
]]> http://www.realprorealestate.com/blog/blog/san-diego-relocation/feed/ 0 http://www.realprorealestate.com/blog/blog/san-diego-relocation/